[1] He began studying piano as a child, and his first professional appearances were with the house band of the Baltimore Royal Theater in the early 1950s.

He backed Damita Jo DuBlanc on tour from 1960 to 1963, and following this briefly put together his own trio in Washington, D.C., playing at the Bohemian Caverns.

In 1964, he moved to New York City, where he played with Dexter Gordon, Roy Haynes, Sarah Vaughan, Charles Mingus, and Freddie Hubbard.

In the 1980s, he undertook concerts at Carnegie Hall and was a member of the Upper Manhattan Jazz Society with Charlie Rouse, Benny Bailey, and Buster Williams.

[1][3] With Ray Alexander With Gary Bartz With Art Blakey With Junior Cook With Larry Coryell With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis With Walt Dickerson With Art Farmer With Ricky Ford With Frank Foster With Stan Getz With Bunky Green With Slide Hampton With Tom Harrell With Freddie Hubbard With Elvin Jones With Lee Konitz With Oliver Nelson With Dizzy Reece With Charlie Rouse With Archie Shepp With Malachi Thompson With Harold Vick